Motivational Mountains

From a distance, it may appear that there is only one mountain.
Sometimes, the distance to the first mountain is enough of a stretch
before looking beyond. Life
is much the same way in that we all can
see at least one mountain that's visible.

So, what is the mountain before you? What challenges does it present? What significance does it have for
your life?

Every person in every country, in every city, town, village or rural area
has a mountain in their life. This mountain may take on several shapes
and sizes but it is a mountain; it's your personal mountain. This personal
mountain dominates your vision; it never gets smaller but can actually grow
bigger over time. The mountain of which I speak maybe abstract at this point,
but I can assure you that it is there in front of you begging for your attention.
You can ignore it, you can try and forget it, or you can try to disguise it but it
is always present.

A Relationship Mountain
Almost everyone I know has a relationship mountain to deal with.
This relationship mountain could be a difficult and challenging colleague
at work, or it could be a spouse, a daughter, a son, an uncle or aunt or a
grandmother or grandfather. I'm sure each person has one of these
relationships that are not enjoyable, healthy or unrewarding. And, within the
mix of one or two or more of these relationships I'm also convinced that
some of these people present a mountain to climb or overcome. And, as
equally valid is that some of these mountains may seem insurmountable,
or are deemed to be a loss cause where the feeling is personified by best
to leave well enough alone.

It may be that one of these relationship mountains is unavoidably linked
to your everyday life; you can't avoid seeing them, or dealing with them.
It may be necessary for you to move across the open plain and approach
the mountain before you run into the first boulder that blocks your path. Or, it
could easily be approachable but your first steps upward are met with fierce
opposition blocking any further movement.

It really doesn't matter, though, whether you would like to scale the mountain
or not, or whether you think it wise to retreat. Sometimes, you must forge
ahead despite boulders raining down on you from the mountaintop. But, you
accept the fact that this relationship is important to you, and, strangely enough
on occasion, important to that person who opposes you. Often times,
advancing forward may mean that you have to take a few steps backward
or even a lot of steps backward. Even though you'd rather not, this means that
you are willing to accept to step back and humble yourself. Maybe you will
have to accept blame for a situation you did not create, or you may have to
apologize even though you did nothing wrong.

But, the real point is that everyone faces a relationship mountain sooner or
later and that it is up to the individual who sees the mountain to initiate the
resolution. You are a wiser and more compassionate
person who tackles
the mountain head on and will not stop until the mountain is climbed. The
benefit to you is not only mending or repairing or renewing the relationship
but more that you will be more aptly prepared to scale the next relationship
mountain you meet - rest assured, there will be more.

"After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb."
Nelson Mandela

Aspirational Mountains
There are countless stories of success
that we can all read. Many of these
stories highlight individuals who did not falter in their quest to become
successful. Success, while open to differing interpretations, means that
a person is able to succeed and attain their stated goal despite facing
setbacks, roadblocks, hurdles, and obstacles along the way.

However, success need not rest only with those we read about like
Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, or Abraham Lincoln. There are countless
stories of the everyday average person taking the bulls by the horns and
moving forward in life even though many issues or circumstances may have
initially stood in their way.

Take you, for example. I'm sure you have desired to do something, or
accomplish something that has looked like it could only be realized in your
dreams. But, dreams never get it done. Dreams
are only the beginning.
You may in fact be facing a career mountain right now as you read this article.
Well, you're not alone. There are thousands upon thousands of people just
like you all over the world.

So, what do you do to climb the mountain, to break the barrier, and to move
beyond a dream. The best dreams are those that come to fruition. How is this
done?

The advice of William Arthur Ward
applies to this situation wherein he said,
"Begin while others are procrastinating. Work while others are wishing."

Ward's advice means that instead of waiting, procrastinating or putting
off doing something, you do it; you take action. The greatest thief of life is
procrastination. Procrastination
is like sailing to that island we all know;
"Someday Isle". Someday you might get to it; someday you may be in
the right position to finally take those first steps; someday when I am more
secure, I'll start my own business; or someday, when I find the right location,
I'll start my store. Guess what? Someday never comes because there
are always going to be excuses you can find to avoid taking action.
Every excuse means the inability or the lack of motivation
to move forward.
Is it because you have a fear of failure?
Michelle C. Ustaszeski
said, "It is sometimes hard to cross that bridge, try
something new, or make that change. But once you do, you will realize that
things are usually never as bad as we imagine."

Don't let procrastination rule your life or be the roadblock that prevents
you from climbing and reaching the peak of the mountain. And, know this:
you are in control of procrastination. No one else is responsible for
procrastinating except you. You might like to blame circumstances or
difficult economic times but, in reality, it's just like having a flat tire -
there is no good time.

Here's another way of thinking about a dream you have yet to put into action.
Just think of what may be written on your tombstone or spoken of at your
eulogy. It may read something like this: A Dreamer of Dreams Not One
Fulfilled. Or, words spoken at your eulogy that go like this: He was a
dreamer. Oh, how he dreamed. But, sadly, he never got around to realizing
any of his spectacular dreams. Oh, how sad.

Final Thoughts
If you think you are going to be defeated, you will be defeated. If you think
you will not succeed, you will not succeed. I would rather have dared than to
not have dared at all. I've known many people who had dreams, big dreams.
Each of these dreams could have been but never were. For one excuse or
another, these dreamers never got beyond the dream stage, although there
was constant talk there was never an action that was taken.

Several years ago, I also had a dream. That dream was to invent a board
game. I envisioned this game to be the stepping stone to great things, a new
life away from the nine to five routine. Well, discussions were held, a draft
board game was developed but there was a big obstacle standing in the way.
I could have easily quit right there and then forever bemoaning that the lack
of financial support stymied me from moving any further. I could have
continued espousing how difficult it was to start a board game company
because it takes money to make money but I didn't have enough of my
own money to proceed.

Instead, however, a plan was devised that would satisfy the financial
requirements to both have the game professionally completed and printed.
The money was raised, a company was formed and the game was developed
and printed and released to the public. Now, I know what you want to ask.
Was it successful? The answer is yes and no.

Yes the game was a success in that a dream became a reality; it was
developed, printed and released to the public. Was it a good game?
I believe it was. Did it make enough money to be called a financial success?
No it didn't.
But, guess what. I would rather have tried and failed than to have never
have tried and only dreamed of what could have been.

Inspirational Quotes for Reflection:
"Regardless of the challenges you face, you have within you what it takes to get through any challenge.
Kelly Stone

"You have the choice to wallow in misery, to continue to let life happen to you, to take control of your life, and even the choice to decide how you will view or react to the bad things that will happen along the way."
Jake Smith

"Each person has the motivation and the drive to become self-disciplined if they put their minds to it and the time and effort that will be required for success."
Mike C. Adams

"Whatever the task, find creative ways to motivate yourself, get up and do what needs to be done, and reward yourself for your efforts. No excuses!"
Sadé Jasmín